Fort Bend Travis players celebrate after their win over South Grand Prairie after the UIL 5A boys state basketball championship game between Fort Bend Travis and South Grand Prairie at the Frank Erwin Center, Saturday, March 9, 2013, in Austin. Travis won the game. ( Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle )

Photo: Karen Warren, Staff

Fort Bend Travis players celebrate after their win over South...

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Travis' Tyronne Jordan (23) gets tangled up with South Grand Prairie's Jalon Anderson (23) during the second half of the UIL 5A boys state basketball championship game between Fort Bend Travis and South Grand Prairie at the Frank Erwin Center, Saturday, March 9, 2013, in Austin. Travis won the game. ( Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle )

Photo: Karen Warren, Staff

Travis' Tyronne Jordan (23) gets tangled up with South Grand...

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Fort Bend Travis' Andrew Harrison (5) battles against South Grand Prairie's Rick Curry (24) during the second half of the UIL 5A boys state basketball championship game between Fort Bend Travis and South Grand Prairie at the Frank Erwin Center, Saturday, March 9, 2013, in Austin. Travis won the game. ( Karen Warren / Houston Chronicle )

Photo: Karen Warren, Staff

Fort Bend Travis' Andrew Harrison (5) battles against South Grand...

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Fort Bend Travis' Daniel Chika gets snagged by South Grand Prairie's Cameron McGriff (12) during the second half of the UIL 5A boys state basketball championship game between Fort Bend Travis and South Grand Prairie at the Frank Erwin Center, Saturday, March 9, 2013, in Austin, Texas. Travis won the game. (AP Photo/Houston Chronicle,Karen Warren)

Photo: Karen Warren, MBO

Fort Bend Travis' Daniel Chika gets snagged by South Grand...

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Fort Bend Travis players celebrate after their win over South Grand Prairie after the UIL 5A boys state basketball championship game between Fort Bend Travis and South Grand Prairie at the Frank Erwin Center, Saturday, March 9, 2013, in Austin. Travis won the game. (AP Photo/Houston Chronicle,Karen Warren)

Photo: Karen Warren, MBO

Fort Bend Travis players celebrate after their win over South...

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Fort Bend Travis' Andrew Harrison (5) battles against South Grand Prairie's Trey Hall (4) during the second half of the UIL 5A boys state basketball championship game between Fort Bend Travis and South Grand Prairie at the Frank Erwin Center, Saturday, March 9, 2013, in Austin. Travis won the game. (AP Photo/Houston Chronicle,Karen Warren)

Photo: Karen Warren, MBO

Fort Bend Travis' Andrew Harrison (5) battles against South Grand...

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Travis' John Burnett (1) jumps up for the basket against South Grand Prairie's Rick Curry (24) during the first half of the UIL Class 5A boys' state basketball championship game Saturday, March 9, 2013, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Houston Chronicle, Karen Warren) MANDATORY CREDIT

Last season ended with a 56-52 loss to Marcus, ending what was supposed to be their best shot at a title. And they didn't seem bound for greatness this season while falling to rival Bush three times.

But when they finally upended the Broncos in the regional finals, there was no doubt they would finish what they started a year earlier.

"They understood what was at stake," Brownson said. "Obviously, being there last year helped us. And having Andrew and Aaron (Harrison) as leaders helped us, too, because they're focused, they're competitive, (and) they were going to will us to victory."

Still, the road was fraught with peril – and players determined to shut them down.

The Tigers fell behind Richardson Berkner in the semifinals. Brownson said they were getting back on defense and couldn't hit a shot in the first half. But they weathered the storm and grabbed the lead in the third quarter.

Free-throw shooting was key to the turnaround, with Travis hitting 20-of-21 at one point in its 60-52 win.

Grand Prairie was tenacious defensively, resulting in a 20-19 Travis lead at halftime.

"It was a defensive struggle," Brownson said. "Both teams are very good defensively. We struggled to make shots but a lot of that was due to them and their defense. They're big, and so we couldn't grab any rebounds."

Brownson said half Grand Prairie's points in the first half came off offensive rebounds. So the Tigers rebounded better in the second half, and once they got a little bit of a lead, the game changed.

Travis won 46-38.

"They were a lot bigger than us, and we went with our normal four-guard lineup and we would mix in a bigger lineup at times in the first half to match up with them and their size," Brownson said.

"But once we got the lead, they had to match up to us. They had to chase some of our guards around, which didn't really play into their hands as much."

Aaron struggled to shoot in the final, going 3-of-16 from the floor and 0-of-8 from the 3-point line. But he still made Grand Prairie pay.

"He didn't have a great shooting night," Brownson said. "He was beating himself up for it. But he played great defense on (Ben Emelogu), who's going to Virginia Tech. He ended up with (13), but he had to work really hard for that. Aaron grabbed 10 rebounds. So that's what we talk about with those kids – if your shot's not falling, find another way to make a winning play, and he did."

Andrew ended up as the MVP, recording 16 points, nine rebounds, three assists and three steals.

Now it's time to start thinking about life without the Harrisons, who are headed to Kentucky. They won 102 games in three years and went to two state finals.

"It's already entered my mind, but I haven't spent a whole lot of time on next season," Brownson said. "Luckily, we're on Spring Break, so that gives us a little time to enjoy this, but then we'll get back to work.

"The goals don't change. We've got to stick to the process of getting better."